Suture materials

Question 1

Define suture

Answer 1

material used to promote wound healing by surgically joining margins/ends of wound & holding them securely together to reduce tension between them

Question 2

Define suturing

Answer 2

process of applying a suture

Question 3

Define ligature

Answer 3

Material used to close blood vessels & stop haemorrhage

Question 4

What are some characteristics of an ideal suture

Answer 4

• high tensile strength
• easy to use for surgeons
• easy to tie & secure knot
• highly uniform tensile strength, permitting use of finer size
• inhibit tissue reactions & wicking
• non-toxic, non-carcinogenic & non-allergenic
• easily sterilised
• surface must minimise bacterial adhesion
• maintain its properties for sufficient time
• inexpensive

Question 5

What are the different origins of suture materials?

Answer 5

Question 6

What are the different behaviours of suture materials?

Answer 6

Question 7

What are the different structures of suture material?

Answer 7

Question 8

Define tensile strength

Answer 8

Breaking strength per unit area

Question 9

Define memory

Answer 9

Tendency to retain original configuration

Question 10

Define ‘chatter’ and tissue drag

Answer 10

Lack of smoothness or friction whilst passing through tissue

Question 11

Define tissue reaction

Answer 11

Tissues respond to the implantation of sutures as they do to other foreign material & can provoke an inflammatory response

Question 12

What are the advantages vs disadvantages of absorbable suture material

Answer 12

Question 13

What are the advantages vs disadvantages of non-absorbable suture material

Answer 13

Question 14

What are the advantages vs disadvantages of braided/multifilament suture material

Answer 14

Question 15

What are the advantages vs disadvantages of monofilament suture material

Answer 15

Question 16

Describe the different sizes of suture material

Answer 16

Question 17

Describe USP vs metric sizing

Answer 17

Question 18

What are the 2 types of needle fixation

Answer 18

eyed and swaged

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of eyed needles

Answer 19

• double strand of suture material
• multiple uses –> blunt
• increased tissue trauma

Question 20

Describe swaged needles

Answer 20

• Minimal trauma
• single use
• optimal penetration properties
• needle of choice

Question 21

What are the 3 parts of a needle

Answer 21

• point
• body
• eye

Question 22

Describe needle curvature

Answer 22

• Needle’s radius of curvature if expressed in proportion to a circle
• The deeper the wound, the more curved the needle

Question 23

What are the different needle section shapes

Answer 23

Question 24

Describe needle composition

Answer 24

• Needles are made from stainless alloys
• Must be sufficiently rigid to resist forces applied to them during handling, but must be sufficiently flexible to bend before breaking
• Bending property called “ductility” (warns surgeon that forces placed on needle are too great)